adamkolesar
Lil-Rokslider
Forward:
Firstly, many thanks to @Steve O for the excellent write up on his adventure with Canadian North Outfitters chasing Musk Ox in Nunavut Canada last Spring. His story was so compelling, I immediately contacted Shane Black from Canada North and arranged "the same trip Steve had!" (My words).
Shane offers many trips in the Canadian Arctic for a variety of species, but relatively few trips for Spring Barren Ground Musk Ox. As you likely know, the Barren Ground sub species is about 20% larger than the Greenland variety. In fact, Shane was running a couple of Greenland Ox hunts and polar bear hunts in different Communities during my stay. The goal of this write up is to serve as a supplement to Steve's excellent write up of last season.
Every trip is a different experience given the variables of weather, guides, animal location and the formidable logistical challenges that inform executing a hunt in a very unforgiving environment.
I've had Musk Ox on my radar for some time. I've entered the draw in AK for the last 10 years with no luck. Reading about Steve's experience prompted me to contact Canada North. I'm glad I did!
As mentioned, Shane, Tony and Gina are consumite pros at logistics and communication from the time you pick up the phone. Gina sets up the flights from Edmonton (in my case) to the hunter's final destination and arranged all the paperwork /Licences/permits and lodging ahead of the hunt. Shane greeted me at the airport in Cambridge Bay and checked me in w/ Wildlife for the locking tags and licence.
Shane is very connected in the Community. It seems he knows everyone! As importantly, he has a deep respect for the Inuit culture and treats his guides well. I've read more than a few accounts of Outfitter's poor treatment of their guides, and that attitude trickling down to the client.
The nature of this hunt, and the inhospitable conditions out in the Arctic demand guides who know the score. Shane keeps two phones with him at all times, and a text from a customer or guide is ALWAYS answered within minutes. I'm pretty sure there wasn't a period of more than 5 minutes during my time w/ Shane that he wasn't in contact with someone. The guy takes prompt response to a new level. As Steve mentioned, Shane provides Canada Goose expedition grade Arctic suits to his clients. I brought up all my cold weather gear thinking "I have this covered". Shane looked over my Kuiu gear and said "man, you pack pretty light". He said "wear everything!" including my travel clothes. He provided me an additional Kuiu Super Down jacket, the newish down glassing glommit and what would be the clutch addition to the cold weather arsenal, hand crafted beaver mittens!
So my layering was as follows:
Upper half
Kuiu merino tee
Kuiu merino pullover
Kuiu pelton 240 hoodie
My cotton travel hoodie
Kuiu DCS Vest
Kuiu super down in L
Kuiu super down XL
Canada Goose Expedition Parka
Hands: merino gloves, beaver mittens
Lower half:
Smart Wool lightweight knee socks
Kuiu calf height wool hiking socks
Baffin Bay expedition boots
Kuiu merino boxer briefs
Peleton 240 long underwear
Filson tin cloth pants (travel pants)
Kuiu super down pants
Canada Goose Expedition Bibs
When the waitress at the local diner, the game officer and your Inuit guide comment about how cold it's been, you know you're in for it.
In fact, our departure temperature was -47 with a headwind across the open ocean creating a -56 wind chill. The high temp for the trip was -30 at around noon on the mainland. Shane was rightly concerned that his client from "down south" was reasonably prepared for the journey to the hunting grounds.
Firstly, many thanks to @Steve O for the excellent write up on his adventure with Canadian North Outfitters chasing Musk Ox in Nunavut Canada last Spring. His story was so compelling, I immediately contacted Shane Black from Canada North and arranged "the same trip Steve had!" (My words).
Shane offers many trips in the Canadian Arctic for a variety of species, but relatively few trips for Spring Barren Ground Musk Ox. As you likely know, the Barren Ground sub species is about 20% larger than the Greenland variety. In fact, Shane was running a couple of Greenland Ox hunts and polar bear hunts in different Communities during my stay. The goal of this write up is to serve as a supplement to Steve's excellent write up of last season.
Every trip is a different experience given the variables of weather, guides, animal location and the formidable logistical challenges that inform executing a hunt in a very unforgiving environment.
I've had Musk Ox on my radar for some time. I've entered the draw in AK for the last 10 years with no luck. Reading about Steve's experience prompted me to contact Canada North. I'm glad I did!
As mentioned, Shane, Tony and Gina are consumite pros at logistics and communication from the time you pick up the phone. Gina sets up the flights from Edmonton (in my case) to the hunter's final destination and arranged all the paperwork /Licences/permits and lodging ahead of the hunt. Shane greeted me at the airport in Cambridge Bay and checked me in w/ Wildlife for the locking tags and licence.
Shane is very connected in the Community. It seems he knows everyone! As importantly, he has a deep respect for the Inuit culture and treats his guides well. I've read more than a few accounts of Outfitter's poor treatment of their guides, and that attitude trickling down to the client.
The nature of this hunt, and the inhospitable conditions out in the Arctic demand guides who know the score. Shane keeps two phones with him at all times, and a text from a customer or guide is ALWAYS answered within minutes. I'm pretty sure there wasn't a period of more than 5 minutes during my time w/ Shane that he wasn't in contact with someone. The guy takes prompt response to a new level. As Steve mentioned, Shane provides Canada Goose expedition grade Arctic suits to his clients. I brought up all my cold weather gear thinking "I have this covered". Shane looked over my Kuiu gear and said "man, you pack pretty light". He said "wear everything!" including my travel clothes. He provided me an additional Kuiu Super Down jacket, the newish down glassing glommit and what would be the clutch addition to the cold weather arsenal, hand crafted beaver mittens!
So my layering was as follows:
Upper half
Kuiu merino tee
Kuiu merino pullover
Kuiu pelton 240 hoodie
My cotton travel hoodie
Kuiu DCS Vest
Kuiu super down in L
Kuiu super down XL
Canada Goose Expedition Parka
Hands: merino gloves, beaver mittens
Lower half:
Smart Wool lightweight knee socks
Kuiu calf height wool hiking socks
Baffin Bay expedition boots
Kuiu merino boxer briefs
Peleton 240 long underwear
Filson tin cloth pants (travel pants)
Kuiu super down pants
Canada Goose Expedition Bibs
When the waitress at the local diner, the game officer and your Inuit guide comment about how cold it's been, you know you're in for it.
In fact, our departure temperature was -47 with a headwind across the open ocean creating a -56 wind chill. The high temp for the trip was -30 at around noon on the mainland. Shane was rightly concerned that his client from "down south" was reasonably prepared for the journey to the hunting grounds.
